The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-07
Z THE FAIRY SPRING.

place, and -"
"Of course" interrupted Kittie'
"Mr. Lionel Bacon will be there, and
if, under the combined influence OF
the poetic woods and {. heavy dinner,
Miss Agnes H9le doesn't make him
propose before the day is over she
deserves v. forfeit all her laurels
won"
Agnes deigned no reply, and we will
use the pause to explain that she was
the belle OF the country round, and
that Lionel Bacon was the most eligi-
BILE young man in the same country;
and that, in addition to beng rich
and handsome, he was also honorable
and manly. He lived with his BROTH
er's family at Bacon place, and was
an admirer OF Miss Hale's but up to
the present time he had failed to avow
any warmer feeling, which piqued that
lady not little, for she was not &C.
customed to having her charms with
stood, and she had secretly resolved
to become Mrs. Lionel Bacon.
The picknickers were gathered IN
the glen. It was a grand day, clear
and bright without q shadow OF u
cloud to portend the shower that al.
ways comes, and everyone was ingood
humor.
Agnes and Kittie were both in the
party; Agnes as fresh and beautiful
as the day, and Kittie looking very
we'll for her quiet little self, for she
was neither q beauty nor a genius,
only fresh.hearted sensible girl, able
and willing to take her share OF the
everyday sunshine and cloud OF Or
binary life.
Lionel Bacon had not yet appeared,
but Agnes did not expect him till noon
and she employed her spare time in
shedding sweet smiles on her other
swains.
The snow-whte cloths were spread,
and most tempting feast was devel-
oping itself when voice cried:
"Who will 60 to the spring for wa
teri"
II will" said Kittie, and she seized
a Jug,
tie," cried Fred Jones, rising from his
seat by Agnes, whom he had been
tanning.
Kittie knew her sister did not like
adorers to leave her side for any
other woman, and she attempted to
decline the offer, but he persisted, add
ing:
"You come too Miss Agnes, for this
is fairy spring, and if you chance to
reach it at just the right moment you
will find a water nymph who will tell
you your fate. Who knows but this
may be the appointed timer Will you
try?"
Agnes laughed assent, and they set
out Tor the spring They soon reached
it, and, sitting beside it, found, not a
nymph or fairy, but as dirty and
bedraggled and sorry q looking child
as one could wish to behold, who, as
they approached, sprang up and ran
to meet them, and, seizing Agnes
dainty dress in her dirty, trembling
hands, sobbed:
Take me home! Please take me
homel"
Agnes snatched her dress away
and pushed the child from her 'ex-
claiming:
Good graciousl You dirty little
thing Go away You have ruined
my dressl" -
Nat Kittie went to the little thing
and tried TO comfort her.
"For PHYS sake, Kit" Agnes con-
k...,,1I har ctcfar xvina1 tha tao
stained face with her handkerchief,
"what are you doing? l wouldn't
touch the filthy thing for the world"
Mr.. Jones looked uncomfortable.
Kittie turned from Agnes and gave
her attention to the child. Mr.. Jones
filed the Jug, and then stood irreso-
lutte between them. Agnes grew inn
patient. II was past noon; Lionel
Bacon would arrive at the picnic be-
lore she returned. and she did not
wish that to happen. She asked pet
tishly:
well, Mr.. Jones, are you going
pack with me, or will you also join
the founding service"
Mr.. Jones turned to Kittie.
I-am-very sorry. Miss Kit"
"Oh, never mindl" interrupted
Kittie. "You go back with her. l
shall do what l can for this baby,
and then think / car find the way
back alone"
They left her, and Kittie washed
he little face and tried to smooth
out the rumpled dress, and discovered
n so doing that the face was delicate
and pretty and the dress fine and
handsome. She tried &c learn from